Police, DA ask public for help in New Bedford homicide

Authorities have released the identity of the homicide victim found early Sunday morning near Weld Square in New Bedford and are asking the public for help with the investigation.

Standard-Times staff report

NEW BEDFORD -- Authorities have released the identity of the homicide victim found early Sunday morning near Weld Square and are asking the public for help with the investigation.

The victim has been identified as Edson A. Ramos, 32, of an unknown address in New Bedford, according to a statement from the Office of Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter.

New Bedford Police and State Police detectives assigned to the District Attorney's office, along with homicide prosecutors, are now jointly investigating the discovery of Ramos' body as a homicide and are asking for the public's help.

Around 2:10 a.m., Sunday, police responded to a grassy area adjacent to Route 18 near the Route 195 overpass in the Weld Square section of the city. When they arrived, they located the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The state's Medical Examiner has completed an initial autopsy and determined the death to be a homicide, the District Attorney's office reported.

Authorities declined to release additional information, including the exact cause of Ramos' death, citing investigatory reasons. The homicide investigation is being coordinated by Assistant District Attorney Michael Cahillane.

District Attorney Sutter and New Bedford Police Chief David Provencher are urging the public to come forward with any information they may have about the incident.

Anyone who observed suspicious behavior in the area of Weld Square or has any information about the incident, is urged to contact New Bedford Police at 508-991-6300 or use the department's anonymous tip line at 508-961-4584.

Citizens can also use the district attorney's anonymous text-a-tip program by either texting the phrase “Call 50″ to the phone number 274637 or by logging onto tipsubmit.com.